Cold brew coffee maker

ABSTRACT

An hourglass shaped apparatus for cold brewing coffee, comprising a brew chamber, an extract chamber and a center piece connecting the brew and extract chambers. The extract and brew chambers comprise two ends of the hourglass shaped apparatus and the center piece comprises middle portion. The brew chamber houses a free standing self-contained filter assembly containing coffee grounds inside a micro-fine wire mesh. Water is poured into the brew chamber to generate coffee extract through cold water infusion. After the brewing process, the apparatus is inverted, and the coffee travels into the extract chamber through the center piece for dispensing. Coffee brewed in this manner is less acidic and more flavorful than the conventionally hot-brewed beverage. All the components of the apparatus, the filter assembly, the brew chamber, the extract chamber, and the center tie piece, are detachable.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a utility patent application which claims benefit of U.S.Provisional Application No. 60/672,591, filed on Apr. 18, 2005

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not Applicable

SEQUENCE LISTING

Not Applicable

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to an improved apparatus forbrewing coffee and more particularly to an improved apparatus that coldbrews coffee to produce an infusion of coffee extract, and also storesand dispenses coffee.

BACKGROUND

Apparatuses for brewing coffee are well known in the art. In the knownart, coffee is customarily drip-brewed using heated water. Water isheated in a vessel, and then poured over a container of ground coffee.As the water mingles with the grounds, a coffee extract is producedwhich drips through a filter into a coffee pot or cup. Improvements tothe art have lead to machines that automatically heat water and brewcoffee in one self-contained device.

Although coffee is traditionally brewed in hot or boiling water, it isalso possible to cold brew coffee. A preference for cold brewed coffeehas developed, principally due to its flavor. Since many of the bitteroils and acids contained in coffee are soluble only at high temperature,coffee brewed with hot or boiling water is characterized by a harshacrid taste. Cold brewed coffee avoids this problem. As the preferencefor cold brewed coffee has grown, several developments in the cold brewprocess have been made.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,051,264 to Sanderson discloses a process for obtaining acold water extract from tea leaves. The process involves treating freshgreen tea leaves with an enzyme additive to produce dry tea leaves whichare cold water extractable. In addition, U.S. Pat. No. 6,761,918 toPulikkottil discloses a method of processing green tea leaves to produceblack tea particles that can be brewed in cold water.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,878,746 discloses a cold water coffee brewer comprisinga large canister into which coffee grounds are placed and through whichcold water is circulated. This device is designed to accomplish aninfusion of water with coffee extract, similar to the present invention.However, it is structurally distinct, and performs the infusion througha drip mechanism rather than soaking. U.S. Pat. No. 4,112,830 disclosesa similar device using cold water to obtain an extraction. This deviceis also structurally distinct from the present invention, complex anddifficult to clean.

The aforementioned cold brewing methods and devices are either meant forbrewing substances other than coffee, or they are structurally differentfrom the present invention, and are designed for a different type ofprocess. Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to providean improved apparatus for cold brewing coffee to produce a liquidextract or infusion that can brew, store and dispense coffee.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved coldbrew coffee apparatus that is fully invertible wherein the apparatus isof hourglass shape/design to facilitate brewing and dispensing.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved coldbrew coffee apparatus wherein a unique coffee filter system is freestanding and integrates into the brew chamber easily and with no mess.

Finally, it is an objective of the present invention is to provide animproved cold brew coffee apparatus which is a fully enclosed system,whereby coffee grounds are brewed in cold water for extended period oftime for better taste and flavor and can be stored in a refrigerator forup to two weeks. These and other objects of the present invention willbecome better understood with reference to the appended Summary,Description, and Claims.

SUMMARY

The present invention relates to an improved apparatus for brewingcoffee to produce a liquid extract/concentrate that can be brewed incold water and which can be stored fresh in the refrigerator for up totwo weeks. The apparatus solves the inherent problems of hot brewmethods that produce a bitter, acidic coffee, and improves the art ofcold brewing.

The cold brew coffee apparatus comprises a filter assembly, a center tiepiece, a brew chamber and an extract chamber. The filter assemblyincludes an outer cup, a hollow inner housing and a micro-fine wire meshcoffee filter secured between the outer cup and inner housing. The wiremesh is exposed between the side walls of the outer cup and innerhousing. The center tie piece is hollow and comprises two conicalextremities connected by a narrow midsection. The extract chamber is thesame size as the brew chamber, and is mounted to the end of the centertie piece opposite the brew chamber.

To brew coffee, the filter assembly is filled with grounds and the rimat its open end is securely received to the inside bottom surface of thebrew chamber. The brew chamber is inverted and made to stand on its baseso that the filter assembly is upside-down. Water is poured into thebrew chamber, filling the base assembly and soaking the grounds. Thecenter tie piece is attached with a quarter turn that engages threadingat the junction of the brew chamber and the center tie piece. Theextract chamber is then mounted to an opposite end of the center tiepiece. A gasket or an o-ring on the threading prevents leakage betweenthe brew/extract chambers and the center tie piece. The apparatus isthen left to brew for twelve hours to complete the cold brew cycle.

After the proper level of infusion is reached, usually after twelvehours, the brew cycle is complete. The apparatus is then inverted, andcold brewed coffee is drained out of the used grounds in the filterchamber and into the extract chamber. Once the coffee has drained fromthe filter, the brew chamber can be disassembled and the coffee groundsare disposed. Cold brewed coffee can be decanted from the extractchamber into a storage container. The storage container may be kept in arefrigerator to store the cold brewed coffee for up to two weeks. Thefilter assembly, the center tie piece and brew and extract chambers canthen be cleaned for re-use.

Cold brewed coffee is more concentrated and less acidic thanconventionally brewed coffee. To approximate the characteristics of atypical cup of coffee, it can be diluted with hot water. According topreference, it may also be consumed at a higher concentration, or usedto prepare an iced beverage. In one preferred embodiment of theinvention, the main structural components are composed of acrylic orpolycarbonate. In addition, all of the parts of the apparatus arereusable.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cold brew coffee apparatus inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the filter assembly of the cold brewcoffee apparatus of the present invention.

FIGS. 3A, 3B and 3C are different views of the outer cup of the filterassembly.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are perspective views of the inner cup of the filterassembly.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the wire mesh coffee filter of thefilter assembly.

FIGS. 6A and 6B are perspective views of brew/extract chamber.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the brew chamber with the filterassembly.

FIGS. 8A and 8B are perspective views of the end caps with grippingpads.

FIGS. 9A and 9B are perspective views of the center tie piece.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the carafe assembly.

FIG. 11 is a front view of the cold brew coffee apparatus of the presentinvention, fully assembled and standing on the brew chamber.

FIG. 12 is a front view of the cold brew coffee apparatus of the presentinvention, fully assembled and standing on the extract chamber tocollect the coffee.

FIGURES—REFERENCE NUMBERS

-   10 . . . Cold Brew Coffee Apparatus-   11 . . . Filter Assembly-   12 . . . Brew Chamber-   13 . . . Carafe Assembly-   14 . . . Center Tie Piece-   15 . . . Extract Chamber-   16 . . . Outer Cup-   17 . . . Inner Housing-   18 . . . Wire Mesh-   19 . . . Flat Surface of the Outer Cup-   20 . . . Rim of the Outer Cup-   21 . . . Connecting Member of the Outer Cup-   22 . . . Leg Member-   23 . . . First Rim of the Inner Housing-   24 . . . Second Rim of the Inner Housing-   25 . . . Connecting Member of the Inner Housing-   26 . . . Hole on the Outer Cup-   27 . . . Projection Section on the Outer Cup-   28 . . . Groove on the Outer Cup-   29 . . . Projecting Member on the Inner Housing-   30 . . . Groove on the Inner Housing-   31 . . . Gasket-   32 . . . Cylindrical Depression in the Brew Chamber-   33A . . . First Cap-   33B . . . Second Cap-   34 . . . Gripping Pad-   35 . . . Conical Member-   36 . . . Threaded Mouth of the Extract/Brew Chamber-   37 . . . Threaded End of the Center Tie Piece-   38 . . . Pour Lip-   39 . . . Logo Button-   40 . . . Hole in the Cap

DESCRIPTION

The novel features of the present invention will become apparent fromthe following description of the preferred embodiment, and asillustrated in FIGS. 1 through 11. The present invention is anhourglass-shaped cold brew coffee apparatus 10, which comprises a filterassembly 11, a brew chamber 12, and a carafe assembly 13. The carafeassembly 13 is comprised of a center tie piece 14 and an extract chamber15.

Referring to FIGS. 2 through 5, the filter assembly 11 includes an outercup 16, an inner housing 17 and a micro-fine wire mesh 18 that filtersout coffee grounds from the infused water. The outer cup's structurecomprises a substantially flat surface 19 and a rim 20 opposite andconnected to the flat surface 19 by four connecting members 21, whichleave four large openings in its side walls. Four arced leg members 22on the flat surface 19 of the outer cup 16 serve as feet to support thefilter assembly 11 on any flat surface as the filter assembly is filledwith coffee grounds. The inner housing's 17 structure comprises a firstrim 23 and a second rim 24 connected to the first rim 23 by fourconnecting members 25, which also leave four large openings in its sidewalls. The second rim 24 projects outwardly from the exterior of theinner housing 17. The wire mesh 18 is secured between the outer cup 16and inner housing 17 so that it is exposed from between their connectingmembers 21 and 25, thereby enabling the coffee extract to pass through.

The side walls of the outer cup 16 are slightly sloped towards the flatsurface 19 and the side walls of the inner housing 17 are slightlysloped towards the first rim 23, so that the inner housing istelescopically received in the outer cup. In addition, the externaldimensions of the inner housing 17 are substantially equal to theinternal dimensions of the outer cup 16, leaving a small clearancebetween them to firmly accommodate the wire mesh 18. The outer cup 16includes three holes 26 around the periphery of its flat surface 19 anda projecting section 27, which radially projects downwards from the flatsurface 19. The projecting section 27 extends into one of the connectingmembers and forms a groove 28 on top of the flat surface 19. Theinterior of the flat surface 19 includes a radially oriented groove (notshown) for receiving the first rim 23 of the inner housing 17. The firstrim 23 includes three projecting members 29 and a groove 30 on one ofthe connecting members. The projecting members 29 are suitably designedto snap into the holes 26 of the outer cup 16.

In order to secure the inner housing 17 inside the outer cup 16, theprojecting section 27 is received in the groove 30 of the inner housingand the projecting members 29 are snapped into the holes 26 of the outercup, by pushing the inner housing inside the outer cup. But, first thewire mesh 18 is wrapped around the inner housing 17 before it is securedinside the outer cup 16. A gasket 31 or an o-ring is placed between therim 20 of the outer cup and the second rim 24 of the inner housing.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, the brew and extract chambers 12 and 15 areidentical and constitute approximately one fourth the size of the wholeapparatus 10, representing the ends of an hourglass shape. The interiorof the bottom surface of the brew chamber 12 includes a cylindricaldepression 32 that is adapted to receive the second rim 24 of the innerhousing 17. The gasket 31 placed between the rim 20 of the outer cup andthe second rim 24 of the inner housing helps in achieving a secure fitbetween the filter assembly 11 and the brew chamber 12.

Referring to FIGS. 8A and 8B, a first cap 33A is attached to the brewchamber 12. The cylindrical depression 32 in the interior of the brewchamber leads to a cylindrical projection on its exterior bottomsurface. The first cap 33A is adapted to be firmly attached over thecylindrical projection. A second cap 33B, similar to the first cap 33A,is attached to the bottom of the extract chamber 15. Several designs andstructures are possible for the caps, one of them being shown in FIGS.8A and 8B. The caps act as a base and further include a plurality ofgripping pads 34 made of rubber or other anti-slip materials. The centerportion of the caps may include a logo button 39, which can be snappedin the hole 40. Even the gripping pads can be snapped in the caps.

Referring to FIGS. 9A and 9B, the center tie piece 14 is hollow andcomprises two conical members 35A and 35B connected at their vertices.The center tie piece 14 is approximately half the size of the apparatus10. The inner surface of the conical members includes pour lips 38. Thebrew and extract chambers include helical threaded indentation on theexterior of their mouths 36, which are adapted to engage a complimentaryset of threaded indentation on the inner surfaces of the two ends 37 ofthe center tie piece 14 with a quarter turn. A gasket is used to form ahermetic seal at the junction of the center tie piece 14 and thebrew/extract chambers. The center tie piece 14 along with the brew andextract chambers 12 and 15 mounted to its either ends are so designed inorder to conform to an hourglass shape.

In order to use the apparatus, first fresh coffee grounds are placed inthe filter assembly 11, which is balanced and supported by the legmembers 22. The brew chamber 12 with its associated cap 33A is invertedand fitted over the filter assembly 11, sealing in place with the gasket31 on the filter assembly. The grounds are thereby enclosed. The brewchamber 12 is then inverted so the first cap 33A is down and the legmembers 22 of the filter assembly 11 are facing up. Then the brewchamber 12 can be filled with water until the grounds are submerged. Thegroove 28 channels water into the brew chamber to soak the grounds. Oneof the ends 37A of the center tie piece is mounted to the brew chamber12, with a quarter turn. The extract chamber is then mounted to anopposite end 37B of the center tie piece 14. The apparatus 10 now standson the brew chamber 12, particularly on the first cap 33A attached tothe brew chamber 12, as seen in FIG. 11. The gaskets prevent leakageafter the apparatus is assembled. Water soaks into the grounds andstarts the cold brew infusion process. The brewing process takesapproximately twelve hours.

After the brew cycle is complete, the apparatus 10 is inverted and madeto stand on the extract chamber 15, as seen in FIG. 12. Cold brewedcoffee extract will drain out of the filter assembly 11 and the brewchamber 12, and into the extract chamber 15 through the center tie piece14. The apparatus 10 takes approximately five minutes to complete thisstep. After all the extract has drained into the extract chamber 15, thebrew chamber 12 and incorporated filter assembly 11 can be disconnectedand the coffee grounds disposed of. The coffee extract is then pouredform the carafe assembly into a storage container and can be kept freshin a refrigerator for up to two weeks. Once the coffee has beendispensed, the entire apparatus can be disassembled and cleaned.

Coffee brewed in the apparatus 10 is a deep rich extract coffeeconcentrate, and is far less acidic than conventionally brewed coffee.It can be diluted with hot water to a desired taste and strength. Tomake a typical cup of coffee, two tablespoons of extract are added to 8oz of hot water. More or less concentrate can be added for desired tasteand strength. In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the brewchamber, the extract chamber, and the center tie piece of the apparatusare made of acrylic or polycarbonate material.

The features disclosed in this specification, including any accompanyingclaims, abstract, and drawings, may be replaced by alternative featuresserving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly statedotherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each featuredisclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent orsimilar features.

While specific apparatus has been disclosed in the precedingdescription, it should be understood that these specifics have beengiven for the purpose of disclosing the principles of the presentinvention and that many variations thereof will become apparent to thosewho are versed in the art. Therefore, the scope of the present inventionis to be determined by the appended claims.

Any element in a claim that does not explicitly state “means for”performing a specified function, or “step for” performing a specificfunction, is not to be interpreted as a “means” or “step” clause asspecified in 35 U.S.C. § 112, paragraph 6. In particular, the use of“step of” in the claims herein is not intended to invoke the provisionsof 35 U.S.C. § 112, paragraph 6.

1. A cold brew coffee apparatus, comprising; a) a filter assembly forholding coffee grounds, comprising; i) a hollow, vertically extending,exterior housing including a substantially flat surface and a rimopposite to and connected to the flat surface by a plurality ofconnecting members around the peripheries of the flat surface and therim; ii) an interior housing including a first rim and a second rimopposite to and connected to the first rim by a plurality of connectingmembers around the peripheries of the first and second rims, theinterior housing being adapted to be telescopically received and securedinside the exterior housing; iii) a filter in the form of wire meshfirmly held between the exterior and interior housing, whereby thefilter is exposed from between the plurality of connecting members ofthe exterior and interior housing; b) a hollow, vertically extendingmiddle unit having a first end and a second end; c) a first containerwith its open end removably mounted to the first end of the middle unit,the inside of bottom surface of the first coffee container being adaptedto securely receive the second rim of the interior housing; d) a secondcontainer with its open end mounted to the second end of the middleunit, the inside of bottom surface of the second coffee container beingadapted to securely receive the second rim of the interior housing;wherein the two containers are mounted to the two ends of the middleunit after the filter assembly is filled with coffee grounds andsecurely received in one of the containers.
 2. The cold brew coffeeapparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is of hourglass shape witheach of the two containers being approximately one fourth the size ofthe apparatus and the middle unit being narrow in its middle portion isapproximately half the size of the apparatus.
 3. The cold brew coffeeapparatus of claim 2, wherein the middle unit being hollow comprises twosubstantially conical members connected at their vertices.
 4. The coldbrew coffee apparatus of claim 1, wherein the inner surfaces of theconical members include members for pouring oriented in the arc of theconical member.
 5. The cold brew coffee apparatus of claim 1, wherein afirst gasket is used between the rim of the exterior housing and thesecond rim of the interior housing, which projects outwardly from theinterior housing, to achieve a hermetic seal between the filter assemblyand any one of the containers, a second gasket is used to achieve ahermetic seal between the first container and the first end of themiddle unit, and a third gasket is used to achieve a hermetic sealbetween the second container and the second end of the middle unit. 6.The cold brew coffee apparatus of claim 1, wherein the open ends of thecontainers and the first and second ends of the middle unit includethreading for mounting the coffee containers to the middle unit.
 7. Thecold brew coffee apparatus of claim 1, wherein coffee is brewed in thecontainer with the filter assembly by making the apparatus stand in avertical position on the container with the filter assembly.
 8. The coldbrew coffee apparatus of claim 7, wherein after the coffee is brewed,the apparatus is inverted and made to stand on the other container thatis opposite the container with the filter assembly for collecting thebrewed coffee.
 9. The cold brew coffee apparatus of claim 1, wherein theapparatus further comprises a cap-like member at each end of theapparatus, the bottom surfaces of the containers being securely receivedin the cap-like members.
 10. The cold brew coffee apparatus of claim 9,wherein the cap-like members act as a base.
 11. The cold brew coffeeapparatus of claim 10, wherein the cap-like members include a pluralitygripping pads for providing grip to the apparatus, the gripping padsbeing made rubber or other suitable anti-slip materials.
 12. The coldbrew coffee apparatus of claim 1; wherein the filter assembly ispositioned on the flat surface of the exterior housing and coffeegrounds are poured in the filter assembly.
 13. The cold brew coffeeapparatus of claim 12, wherein the flat surface of the exterior housingincludes a plurality of leg members, on which the filter assembly ismade to stand.
 14. The cold brew coffee apparatus of claim 1, whereinthe exterior and interior housing include an interlocking mechanism. 15.The cold brew coffee apparatus of claim 14, wherein the interlockingmechanism comprises a plurality of holes on the periphery of the flatsurface of the exterior housing and a plurality of projecting members onthe first rim of the interior housing adapted to snap into the pluralityof holes on the periphery of the flat surface.
 16. A cold brew coffeeapparatus, comprising: a) a filter assembly for holding coffee grounds,comprising: i) a hollow, vertically extending, exterior housingincluding a substantially flat surface and a rim opposite to andconnected to the flat surface by a plurality of connecting membersaround the peripheries of the flat surface and the rim; ii) an interiorhousing including a first rim and a second rim opposite to and connectedto the first rim by a plurality of connecting members around theperipheries of the first and second rims, the interior housing beingadapted to be telescopically received and secured inside the exteriorhousing; iii) an interlocking mechanism to secure the interior housinginside the exterior housing; iv) a filter in the form of wire meshfirmly held between the exterior and interior housing, whereby thefilter is exposed from between the plurality of connecting members ofthe exterior and interior housing; wherein coffee grounds are poured inthe filter assembly after it is positioned on the flat surface of theexterior housing; b) a hollow, vertically extending middle unit having afirst end and a second end, the middle unit comprising two substantiallyconical members connected at their vertices; c) a first container withits open end removably mounted to the first end of the middle unit, theinside of bottom surface of the first container being adapted tosecurely receive the second rim of the interior housing; d) a secondcontainer with its open end removably mounted to the second end of themiddle unit, the inside of bottom surface of the coffee container beingadapted to securely receive the second rim of the interior housing;wherein the two containers are mounted to the two ends of the middleunit after the filter assembly is filled with coffee grounds andsecurely received in one of the containers, coffee is brewed in thecontainer with the filter assembly by making the apparatus stand in avertical position on the container with the filter assembly, and theapparatus is inverted after the coffee is brewed and made to stand onthe container that is opposite the coffee container with the filterassembly for collecting the brewed coffee.
 17. The cold brew coffeeapparatus of claim 16, wherein the apparatus is of hourglass shape witheach of the two containers being approximately one fourth the size ofthe apparatus and the middle unit being approximately half the size ofthe apparatus.
 18. The cold brew coffee apparatus of claim 16, whereinthe inner surfaces of the conical members include lips for pouringliquids disposed in the arc of the conical member.
 19. The cold brewcoffee apparatus of claim 16, wherein a first gasket is used between therim of the exterior housing and the second rim of the interior housing,which projects outwardly from the interior housing, to achieve ahermetic seal between the filter assembly and any one of the coffeecontainers, a second gasket is used to achieve a hermetic seal betweenthe first coffee container and the first end of the middle unit, and athird gasket is used to achieve a hermetic seal between the secondcoffee container and the second end of the middle unit.
 20. The coldbrew coffee apparatus of claim 16, wherein the open ends of thecontainers and the first and second ends of the middle unit includethreading for mounting the coffee containers to the middle unit.
 21. Thecold brew coffee apparatus of claim 16, wherein the apparatus furthercomprises a cap-like member at each end of the apparatus, the bottomsurfaces of the coffee containers being securely received in thecap-like members.
 22. The cold brew coffee apparatus of claim 21,wherein the cap-like members act as a base and include a pluralitygripping pads for providing grip to the apparatus, the gripping padsbeing made rubber or other suitable anti-slip materials.
 23. The coldbrew coffee apparatus of claim 16; wherein the flat surface of theexterior housing includes a plurality of leg members on which the filterassembly is made to stand.
 24. The cold brew coffee apparatus of claim16, wherein the interlocking mechanism comprises a plurality of holes onthe periphery of the flat surface of the exterior housing and aplurality of projecting members on the first rim of the interior housingadapted to snap into the plurality of holes on the periphery of the flatsurface.
 25. A method of brewing extract, using a flip-action cold brewextract maker, comprising the steps of, filling a brew chamber withmaterial to be extracted, filling the brew chamber with water, allowingthe water to infuse into the material, generating an extract, and thenflipping the extract maker, allowing the extract to fall into an extractchamber for dispensing.